Brother's Keeper: Ch. 14

By: The Confused One

A/N: YAY The alerts work again, and this chapter is finally finished. Thank you, Sassy, for the beta work. I really appreciate it. Please enjoy the chapter, and remember to review. Thanks.

Curled up in the chair, Alex continued to watch Bobby sleep. She found the steady rhythm of his breathing comforting. She looked out the window. The day was starting. She thought about calling Mike and Carolyn to get an update. She was brought out of her thoughts by a knock at the door. Looking to see who it was, she smiled weakly. "Hey…"

Deakins smiled in return and walked all the way in. "How is he doing?"

Alex looked back at Bobby. "He's doing OK. He's been a little…restless at times, but he's slept through the night."

Deakins nodded. Putting his hand on her shoulder, he suggested, "You should really go home and get a little sleep yourself. You're no good to him exhausted like this, and he's not going to be alone. I'll stay for a little while, and Mike and Carolyn wanted to come by…"

Alex closed her eyes. She was still hesitant to leave him. She didn't want him to wake up without her. She sighed softly and was about to speak, when another voice interrupted, "Go…"

Alex instantly looked over at Bobby. He was watching her. Giving him a weak smile, she spoke softly. "Hey… We didn't wake you, did we?" She was hoping to avoid the subject.

Bobby shook his head. He refused to let her change the subject. He insisted, "Go…home…and…sleep."

Alex started to protest, "I'm really OK…"

Almost pleading, Bobby quietly interrupted, "Please…" He was worried about her. He didn't want her sacrificing her own health and well-being for him.

Alex closed her eyes softly. She couldn't fight both of them. She put her hands up and conceded. "Alright. Alright, I'll go home."

Relieved, Deakins replied, "Good. He'll be fine. I promise."

Alex finally nodded. Looking at Bobby, she took his hand again. She sighed softly. "I'll be back in a little while."

Bobby nodded. He gave her hand a soft squeeze. "I know…"

Alex sighed again. Finally letting his hand go, she bent down and kissed his forehead. Grabbing her things, she left without another word.

Deakins looked at Bobby. Furrowing his brow, he ventured, "How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"

Whatever they had given him was still working. He had a little a little pain, but it was still bearable for the moment. He assured Deakins, "I'm OK…"

With a sigh, Deakins took the seat Alex had just been occupying. He pulled out The New York Times and Car and Driver. Meeting Bobby's eyes, he offered, "I thought you might appreciate the paper and a magazine."

Bobby managed the best imitation of a smile that he could under the circumstances. He nodded quickly. "Thank…you."

Deakins nodded. Handing Bobby the paper first, he replied, "You're welcome." Sitting back, he watched Bobby carefully manage to thumb through the paper. He smiled. Bobby was nothing if not stubborn and independant. Settling back in the seat, he opened the magazine and began thumbing through it.

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Carolyn sipped her coffee. Hanging up, she sighed. Leaning back in her seat, she met Mike's eyes. She sadly replied, "Nothing yet. Not even with the descriptions."

Mike sighed. Frustrated, he scrubbed his face with his hand. "We're getting nowhere."

Carolyn nodded in agreement. She was about to speak again when her phone rang again. With a sigh, she picked it up. "Barek."

Opening a file, Detective Anthony Vargas answered quickly, "Detective Barek, I'm Detective Anthony Vargas from Atlantic City vice. You can call me Tony. My partner, Fawkes, and I have been investigating Stryker for about a year. We were told that you and your partner, Logan, are looking for him?"

Carolyn smiled. She shot a nod to Mike. Focusing on the call, Carolyn replied, "Yes. Yes, we are. We believe an associate of his was involved in a beating of a fellow cop and an attempted murder."

Tony snorted. "Wouldn't surprise me…" He sighed. "Look, we'll do our best and track him down for you if you need us to."

Carolyn nodded. "That would be appreciated. We need to talk to him."

With a nod, Tony assured her, "We'll let you know when we find him."

Relieved, Carolyn replied, "Great. Thank you…"

Tony smiled. Hanging up, he looked up and looked at his partner. "We need to go find Stryker."

Raising his eyebrows, Macon smiled in return. "Well, I guess we can start with his cousin's casino."

Getting up, Tony nodded. "Exactly what I was thinking." Grabbing his things, he smiled.

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Laying the phone down, Carolyn grinned at Mike. "That was a Detective Vargas from Atlantic City. He and his partner are going to track Stryker down for us."

Mike smiled at this news. "Good. That's the best news I've heard all day."

Carolyn laughed. "It's still morning, Mike. I doubt you've gotten much news good or bad."

Mike smirked and flipped a page on a report. Looking back down at it, he replied, "While you were getting coffee, Deakins called. He convinced Eames to go home and get some real sleep. He wants us to go on over to the hospital in a couple of hours."

Carolyn nodded. Looking back down at her own paperwork, she agreed, "That's fine."

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Driving home, Alex realized how tired she actually was. The chair had been excruciating. She grudgingly admitted that Bobby and Deakins had been right. She needed sleep. She wouldn't be any good to Bobby tired. After a few hours of sleep she'd be able to get back to him and help find the guys behind this whole mess.

She pulled into her driveway. Grabbing her things, she got out of her car with a sigh. She got her mail and headed inside. Polly squawked happily. Alex smiled as she put her mail down. "Morning, Polly. You miss me last night?" Looking up, Alex watched her move around her cage for a moment. Hearing another noise, she wrote it off. She continued speaking, "Give me just a second, and I'll get your food…"

Heading to the kitchen, she heard the noise again. This time she was sure. It was footsteps, and they were coming up behind her. Without looking behind her, her adrenalin began flowing. Without thinking, she broke out in a run towards her bedroom. She had to reach her bedroom. She just had to reach the spare gun that she kept there.